If you are not a first time applicant, you may be eligible for an appointment without interview through the Visa Reissuance Program (VRP). See our blog post on VRPs and look at our website to see if you are qualified.

The available interview schedule is late for my intended date of travel. Is it possible to get an earlier appointment?
Early interviews are occsaionally granted in limited cases and pressing circumstances – see the Early Appointments webpage for more information.

Can I use my valid tourist visa to take a short course of study in the United States or do I need to apply for another visa?

Why are the visa interviews so short. The interviewer hardly looked at my supporting documents?

In a typical 8-hour day, a consular officer may need to interview 150 applicants or more. We want to make sure that as many qualified applicants can visit as possibe. Also, the application form, if completed thoroughly, contains most of the information needed to adjudicate the visa. Additional documents are examined only if the consular officer needs further clarification.

If I present a letter of guarantee of return from my U.S. sponsor, will I get a visa?
A letter of guarantee is insufficient to fully establish an applicant’s qualifications for a visa, or to establish the applicant’s social, family, and economic ties to the Philippines. U.S. law requires that each applicant qualify for a visa based upon his or her own circumstances.

I am a U.S. citizen, can I accompany my relatives/friends to their nonimmigrant visa interview?

Only nonimmigrant visa applicants and parents of minor (unmarried 17 years old and below) applicants are allowed in the interviewing area. American citizens and US Lawful Permanent Residents are not allowed to accompany nonimmigrant visa applicants to the interviewing area.

My parents are not fluent in English. Can I accompany them to the interview and act as interpreter?

With few exceptions, nonimmigrant visa applications are evaluated under Section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, which states, in part, that every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa ”. . .shall be presumed to be an immigrant until (s)he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for a visa, . . .that (s)he is entitled to nonimmigrant status. . . .” This statutory presumption of immigration may be overcome by demonstrating sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after a temporary stay in the United States.

If refused, how soon can I apply again?

If you were refused under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, you need to submit more information. You do not need to make another appointment or pay another application fee. You have one year to comply with the requirement of the 221(g) letter.

If you were refused under Section 214(b) or any other section, you may reapply as soon as you can pay the application fee and schedule an appointment through the call center or the online appointment system. While on a second interview you will meet with a different officer, please be aware that you must still demonstrate strong ties to your country. In most cases, it is better to wait until your personal circumstances have changed significantly before reapplying. Quick reapplications based largely on the hope of finding a consul more inclined to issue may result in a second refusal.

Can I still qualify for a tourist visa if I have a pending immigrant petition?
Having an immigrant petition on file is not grounds for an automatic refusal for a non-immigrant visa. The consular officer reviewing your nonimmigrant visa application will require strong evidence that you are not intending to immigrate at this time and that you are returning to the Philippines after your planned and temporary visit to the United States.

Can the fiancee or spouse of a U.S. citizen apply for a non-immigrant visa?

A foreign national engaged or married to a U.S. citizen must prove that s/he is not an intending immigrant. This is usually difficult to do, as the fact that an individual is engaged to a U.S. citizen is usually considered evidence of intent to immigrate. The consular officer reviewing the nonimmigrant visa application will require strong evidence that he/she is not intending to immigrate at this time and that he/she is returning to the Philippines after his/her planned and temporary visit to the United States.

Issuance and Validity

What is the validity of my visa and how long can I stay in the United States?

A nonimmigrant visa is valid for use before its expiration date provided that it is in good condition and has not been tampered with or altered in any way. The validity of the visa is the period where a traveler can enter the United States.

The consular officer issues the visa, but the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer at the U.S. port of entry determines how long you can stay. USCIS generally grants permission for the amount of time needed for purpose of the visit. If you want to stay longer, submit a request for extension to the USCIS. Without an extension, you may become ineligible to visit the U.S. in the future.

How can I ask the status of my application?

Have a look at our post on checking your status online. You can also check your status by calling (02)301-2104. The Nonimmigrant Visas helpline is available from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, Manila time. Applicants can also send an email to ConsManilaNIV@state.gov. When you inquire, please provide your full name, passport number, and date of birth.

Other Questions

I want to know why my employees’ visa applications were denied. Can I speak to the consular officer about their cases?

Under United States law, visa records are confidential. The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit will only respond to visa inquiries from the applicant or from the applicant’s legal representative with a signed Form G-28 (Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative). The Form G-28 should be signed by the applicants and sent to the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit at ConsManilaNIV@state.gov . In cases of minor applicants, inquiries should come from one or both parents.

Should I buy my plane ticket before getting a visa?
We do not recommend purchasing tickets before qualifying for a visa. If your travel depends requires a U.S. visa, you should make no irrevocable travel plans until your visa is approved and your passport returned to you.

74 thoughts on “Non-Immigrant Visa FAQ”

Hi!
I would like to find out if I can still use the St.Lukes Manila Medical Examination result I had last August, 2013, when I first scheduled for a K1 visa last Sep., 2013. I got refused a visa at the time. I do have the same Petitioner and we reapplied and have a new case number now. I understand that St. Lukes advised only a maximum of 6 months validity to the medical result.

But, can the US Embassy still consider accepting the medical result I had last August 2013? I want to know that from their end. Perhaps I may no longer need to renew it.

Hi! I and my husband are working and residing in another country and will go for short vacation in our home country. Can I apply for the tourist visa from our home country? But we’ll have to return back to where we are presently working after a month. When should we book for an appointment?

Hi MRSN. Any person who is legally present in a country may apply for his/her visa in that country. However, applicants are generally advised to apply in their country of nationality or residence. It is generally easiest to demonstrate your strong ties abroad in the country where you permanently reside.
Applicants are advised to book their appointment 3 months before the intended date of travel. You may check the available slots in our Online Appointment System or thru our call center. The soonest you check, the more possibility that you will get a slot appropriate to your situation.We hope you will be able to set your appointment on your preferred date

Visa applications are adjudicated based on individual merits, consistent with criteria specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and the Federal regulations issued pursuant to it. Consular officers are required to deny visas to applicants who cannot qualify under the law and to issue visas to those applicants who do qualify. Consular officers cannot issue visas based on the assurances of family members, friends or interested third parties, on the reputation or integrity of the party recommending the applicant, or on the ability of a sponsor to provide financial support. Rather, the decision simply reflects the visa applicant’s inability to qualify for a visa at the time of application. So For more information, please check our blog posts:

My dad passed away and I want my mom to come and stay with me for sometime in USA. She is around 70 and could not stand for longer time due to medical reasons and also could not handle interview paperwork on her own. Need a wheelchair. I am us citizen but want to accompany my mom to interview and help her move and also with paperwork, she can give the interview on her own. Can I accompany her for these reasons? Pls. Help or how can I seek permission to accompany her. Thx.

Hi Taj. If your mother will be applying here in US Embassy Manila, we may allow non-applicants to come in the Embassy, but this is subject to the approval of the NIV management. Read more about this information on the blogpost “Who Can Come With You on Your Visa Appointment”.

Non Immigrant visa.
Myself, spouse and three daughter applied for non immigrant visa in year 2009, at which time visa validity was for 5 years, and is due to expire in July 2014.
We are Pakistani nationals, however stay in Qatar holding residence permit.
How do we renew non immigrant visa for USA ?

Hi Bhimji Imtiaz. If you hold legal status in Qatar, you can apply for new visas there. However, applicants are generally advised to apply in their country of nationality or residence. It is generally easiest to demonstrate your strong ties abroad in the country where you permanently reside. For the NIV application process you need to comply with the requirements provided at the Nonimmigrant Visas website .

My parents and I are permanent resident in Canada. I already have my u.s visa. My parents want to apply U.S vistor visa, but they cannot speak English. Can I accompany them for the interview while I don’t need to apply for the visa? For the application or arrange appointment, do I sign up a new account for them or should I add them to my account?
Thank you

Hi Vivian. Embassy personnel are available to provide assistance throughout the interview process. Applicants who require interpreters should inform the consular officer at the beginning of their interviews. The Embassy has interpreters on hand who can provide language assistance. There is no need to bring a relative or friend to act as an interpreter.

Every applicant (except those applying for diplomatic visas) requires an interview appointment and needs to pay the machine-readable visa application fee. Thank you.

good day! i would like to ask about police certificate needed when applying for immigrant visa. i am under f2b category. Maybe I will receive my interview letter around 2017 or 2018 . Last 2009 to 2012, I used to live and study in UK for 3 years and now i am already in Philippines for nearly 2 years. my question is, Do i need to obtain a police certificate from UK even im not longer residing there? i just want to be confident and not worrying about it. thank you so much.

i have a son in the Philippines and he is under the K2 visa category but i left him in the Philippines and im here in the US now …. my question is can he travel in the US w/ using that K2 visa category or do we need to file another immigration for him before he get here???Hoping for your answer .thank u so much

Hi Meenakshi. Your nonimmigrant visa is valid for use before its expiration date provided that it is in good condition and has not been tampered with or altered in any way. However, please be aware that a visa may only be used to apply for entry to the United States. Visa holders are subject to inspection at the port of entry by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers who have the sole authority to allow or deny anyone admission.

If your purpose is to visit/ travel to the US temporarily, you may opt to apply for a tourist (B1/B2) visa. The application procedures and requirements are provided in the Nonimmigrant Visa website. You will be assessed by the Consular Officer based on your social, familial, professional, economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after your temporary stay in the US.

To know more about Demonstrating Ties, you may read on our blog post 214(b) Refusals.

Hi Cedric. Your nonimmigrant visa is valid for use before its expiration date provided that it is in good condition and has not been tampered with or altered in any way. However, please be aware that a visa may only be used to apply for entry to the United States. Visa holders are subject to inspection at the port of entry by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers who have the sole authority to allow or deny anyone admission. Thank you.

Hi Elsa. Your can apply for a visitor visa if you want to visit your husband in the United States. To apply for the nonimmigrant visitor (B1/B2) visa, you need to comply with the requirements provided at the Nonimmigrant Visas website. Your eligibility for the visa will be determined by a consular officer at the time of interview. To qualify for the visa, you should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after your temporary stay in the United States. If qualified for the visa, the consular officer would also determine the validity of your visa. Please click here to read our blog post about visa validity.Thank you.

Hi,
Im planning to visit my childre aged ,,23,19,16 yrs old qll girls i missed them so much,,been 8yrs that i never seen them,,i want to surprise visit them in US ,,do i need an invitation letter as this is a surprise visit for them,,i have enough documents to show that i am returning to my home country,,,i only want to see them misss them so much,,,can i apply tourist visa even no invitation letter from them,,thank u

Hi, Lani. The requirements for tourist visa are provided in our website, http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html. You are not required to provide an invitation letter when you apply for the visa. You need only to comply with the requirements provided in the website. Thank you.

Im planning to visit my children aged 23,19,16 all girls ,,its been 8 yrs that i havent seen them ,,i want to surprise visit them ,,do i need invitation letter from them ,,but they dont know im planning to see them,,,i have enough docmunets to show,,do i need invitation letter from my children ,,,pls reply thank u

dear sir,madam i want to visit my friends in the USA, specially the child that i took care since birth when she was still here, they left philippines around 2009 and that time she was 4 yrs old then, and now she was turning 9 yrs old this yr. i really wan to see her and i want to visit her. kindly advise on want kind of visa should my case will fall?. please help me. btw i am 40yrs old.

HI Teodora. If you intend to have a temporary visit in the US,you may apply for a B1/B2 visa. To apply for the nonimmigrant visitor (B1/B2) visa, you need to comply with the requirements provided at the Nonimmigrant Visas website . Your eligibility for the visa will be determined by a consular officer at the time of interview.
To qualify for the visa, you should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after her temporary stay in the United States.

Hi, i would like to ask because i have applied for a non-immigrant visa three times but i was denied three times too. I need to know if the status of the father of my three bilological kids and my three kids as permanent resident of the United States of America is a ground for my disqualification for such visa. The reason for my application for a non-immigrant visa is for me to spend summer vacation with my kids in US as they are currently studying in the Philippines and they go to the US for summer break.Thanks

Hi Pamela, the status of the father of your children is not a ground for disqualification for a US visa. In general, nonimmigrant visa applications will be evaluated under Section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, which states, in part, that every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa ”. . .shall be presumed to be an immigrant until (s)he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for a visa, . . .that (s)he is entitled to nonimmigrant status. . . .” This statutory presumption of immigration may be overcome by demonstrating sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after a temporary stay in the United States.

Hi my case status was ready May 23 2014 but when I checked it, it says check after 2business days , but now it’s already May 29 2014 and I’m sure it passed 2 business days but it just pop up and say the same thing. What should i do its already been a week.

Hi! I am a US tourist visa holder and have recently applied for a tourist visa for both of my 70 years old parents due interview next month. I have filled out the portion in the application that I will be financing their trip for both of them and is wondering now if I should have to be present during their interview to better support my documents and capability to sponsor them. Is it necessary or is it something like my documents will speak on my behalf? Thank you very much!

Good day! I just want to ask what things can I do for me to successfully apply for a tourist visa in the United States? By the way I was issued an H4 visa last 2011 but unfortunately it expired by then as I’ve turned the ahe of 21. My mom works in the US and Im planning to visit her. Also she is the one who will be responsible to shoulder my expenses while in the US. Any suggestions that would greatly help me. Thank you in advance!

Hi Raymund. Every applicant must qualify on his/her own merits. To qualify for the visa, you should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after your temporary stay in the United States. Ties are various aspects of one’s life that bind one to his/her country of residence, like one’s profession, employment, social and family relationships, and properties. All of these factors are considered in the process, and U.S. Immigration Law requires that the visa application be refused if these strong ties are not apparent.
For more information, please see our blog posts:

Hi. I just want to ask about whether i would still need a US visa if ill just accompany a sick patient going back to LA? The situation would be as soon as the ambulance in LA would arrive to pick up my patient in the airplane id be on my way back to the Philippines. If possible, i wont be even getting out from the plane.

Hi, Henry. You would need a nonimmigrant transit (C-1) visa even if you would only be staying in the airport. To apply for a transit visa, please comply with the requirements provided in our website. Thank you.

good day sir or madam,
i want to know how to bring my 6 years old son with me to u.s.a.?
I’m just preparing to complete or fill up my DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application. I don’t know what are the procedure or documents needed to bring my son with me to migrate in the U.S.A.

Hi! I’m a single, self-employed female in my 20s. Traveling to the US is one of my short term goals so I would like to apply for one for future travel. How far in advanced can I apply for a VISA? If issued a VISA, how long would it be valid for? Thank you!

Hi Cacai. To apply, you need to comply with the requirements provided at the Nonimmigrant Visas website. To qualify for the visitor visa, you should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel departure after your temporary stay in the United States. You may wish to read our blog post about visitor visas here.
Visa applicants are advised to plan their travel accordingly. Apply early to avoid problems securing an interview appointment. The typical wait time to receive an interview appointment is not more than two weeks. However, we are aware that there are unforeseen or emergency cases that would need expedited appointments and visa processing.
The consular officer issues the visa, but the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer at the U.S. port of entry determines how long you can stay. USCIS generally grants permission for the amount of time needed for purpose of the visit. Thank you.

Have a good day to you Madam/Sir
I would like to ask, My daughter’s father his american citizen but we are not married. He wants our daughter will visit him so that she can meet the family in states. My daughter is 9months old only. If its possible that I can file also for my visa together with my daughter? We are residing here in Philippines… Thank you so much!

Hi Rozie. You are welcome to apply for a visa if you intend to travel to the U.S. The type of visa you would need to apply for would depend on your purpose of travel. Please visit our website for information on U.S visas. If the purpose of your trip is only to visit the U.S. temporarily then you can apply for a nonimmigrant visa. Thank you.

Good day Sir/Madam, I would like to ask, I’m applying for a Temporary Worker Visa and my wife just got her C1/D visa, she will be working on a cruise ship… is it important to put her on my DS-160 form as an immediate relative in the u.s. or I will just put no and not mention her? Hoping to hear from you soon…Thank you

Hi Riel. Consular Officers often use the information in the DS-160 application to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa. When preparing your application, you must provide accurate information in your DS-160 application. Be prepared to answer the questions asked by the consular officer. The consular officer is likely to be interested to know your purpose of travel, how long you intend to stay in the United States, your contacts in the U.S., and your ties to your home country that would compel you to depart the U.S. after your visit. Do not lie to a consular officer. Lying has serious consequences and can make you permanently ineligible for the visa. Applicants should be honest in discussing their residence (at home and abroad), employment, and family relationships with the consular officer. Thank you.

Hello there!
just a question, what if he/she(alien) received a tourist visa for 10yrs, then her/his fiance is already in US and a green card holder. Is it possible that the fiance (green card holder) can petition his/her fiance (alien) even she/he got already a tourist visa?
Thank you and more power.

My mother and sister just got their tourist visa interview last July 14. Unfortunately they didn’t got approved. Their purpose for applying was to attend my upcoming wedding this Oct 12 here in Virginia. My mother was suppose to give me a way since my father passed away in 2008 and my sister to be my maid of honor and intended to stay for 2 weeks. I don’t have any immediate family here in the US and it is very important to me that at least my mother and sister will be here on this special day that I’ve been waiting in my entire life. Although me and my husband already got married last Christmas by his uncle who is a minister of their church in their house witnessed by 10 people to comply to the 90 day condition of my K1 visa, we still wanted to have a church/ formal wedding in front of family and friends.
Since the consular officer told my mother and sister that they can re apply anytime, I wonder what my family or me and my husband can do to help them get a better chance of getting their Tourist Visa approved?

Hi Karen. They may legally reapply and speak to a different officer at any time. However, please be aware that all officers must make their decisions based on the same U.S. immigration law. Rest assured that all visa applications are given full consideration at the time of the interview.

Also, every applicant must qualify on his/her own merits. To qualify for the visa, they should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after your temporary stay in the United States. Ties are various aspects of one’s life that bind one to his/her country of residence, like one’s profession, employment, social and family relationships, and properties. All of these factors are considered in the process, and U.S. Immigration Law requires that the visa application be refused if these strong ties are not apparent. Thank you.

Hi, can a friend of mine invite me to US on b1/b2 visa irrespective of their race, religion? Or is it that only a family member can send invitations to a member within their respective family on visitor visa?

Hi Shabeen. Visa applications are adjudicated based on individual merits, consistent with criteria specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and the Federal regulations issued pursuant to it. Consular officers are required to deny visas to applicants who cannot qualify under the law and to issue visas to those applicants who do qualify. Consular officers cannot issue visas based on the assurances of family members, friends or interested third parties, on the reputation or integrity of the party recommending the applicant, or on the ability of a sponsor to provide financial support. Rather, the decision simply reflects the visa applicant’s inability to qualify for a visa at the time of application. Thank you.

Belle, an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa will be determined by a consular officer at the time of interview. To qualify for the visa, you should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel departure after a temporary stay in the United States. Ties are various aspects of one’s life that bind one to his/her country of residence, like one’s profession, employment, social and family relationships, and properties. More information about nonimmigrant visas is provided in our website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html.

Sir/Ma’am, I am an Indian your post am. I have received my B1/B2 visa good for 10 yrs however my name is listed on the passport as (Surname-BLANK + Given name-XXXXX YYYYYY) however on the visa its listed as (Surname-YYYYYY+ Given name-XXXXX ). I wanted to reach out to you if you had any issues entering into US with your visa. I would be traveling to US this month and want to ensure that I don’t run into any issues there. Any info you would be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Best Regards

Hi, Didar. Please contact the Embassy where your nonimmigrant visa was issued to inquire about your visa. If your visa was issued in Manila, you can send an email to consmanilaniv@state.gov with your complete name, date of birth, and passport number. If your visa was issued at another post, you can find the contact information of the US Embassies or consulates in http://www.usembassy.gov/sca.html. Thank you.

respected sir/madam
I am a working woman of 54 years.I intend to visit USA for a short holiday of about a week.However,i have no relatives or friend currently living in America.Will it be a problem for me to avail a B-2 visa then? What will be the eligibility criteria-social,legal and financial?

Hi, Madhumita. To qualify for the visitor visa, you should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel departure after your temporary stay in the United States.Ties are various aspects of one’s life that bind one to his/her country of residence, like one’s profession, employment, social and family relationships, and properties. Information on how applicants are evaluated is provided in our website and blog post.

Dear Sir/Ma’am,
I have received my B1/B2 visa good for 10 yrs however my name is listed on the passport as (Surname-BLANK + Given name-XXXXX YYYYY) however on the visa its listed as (Surname-YYYYY+ Given name-XXXXX ). I wanted to reach out to you if you had any issues entering into US with your visa. I would be traveling to US this month and want to ensure that I don’t run into any issues there. Any info you would be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Best Regards

Hi Didar. You can send an email to the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit at ConsManilaNIV@state.gov to inquire about your visa. Or call the NIV helpline (02)301-2104, anytime from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. In general, if there is an error on the visa, the passport with visa should be sent back to the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit via 2GO courier. Please include a letter that clearly states the error. The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit will determine the legitimacy of all visa correction requests.Thank you.

Dear Sir/Madam,
Yesterday our b1/b2 visa is approved after the consulate officer say that they will deliver the docs at our home address and after that we directly out the bldg right away because of our excitement we didn’t notice or ask anybody to assit what the next move after the approval of the visa and now we’re wondering how can we get our passport na hindi naman kami nakapag fill up kung anong courier ang mag deliver sa docs..pls provide any info kung ano dapat gawin…thank you and best regards

Hi Jane. You no longer have to pay extra for your passport and visa to be returned to you – the cost of the courier service is included in your MRV fee that you pay before you make an appointment.

The passport and visa will be sent directly to you by the courier service at the address provided when the appointment was made. If you are not home at the time of the delivery of the passport, you must leave an authorization letter and a copy of a government-recognized photo ID with a representative who can accept your passport on your behalf. Thank you.

Hi, my fiancee just received the k1 visa, it was issued on Jul 1, 2014 and expires on Dec 1, 2014. Due to her job situation and my travel itinerary, we would like to for her to come to US a couple of weeks past the current expiration date. Do you have an advice or suggestion on where to request the extension? 2-week or 1 month is not unusual? Thanks in advance.
Regards,
David

My case is kind of different. I was approved for a single entry Visa good for 3 months. Our company scheduled us for a training in the US but for some reasons, it did not push through. There were like 10 of us that were approved for Single entry visa but only half were sent by the company to US for the training due to some client requirements. In short, my visa was not used and I was not able to travel until it got expired. Now, I plan to go to the US for another business trip but I am afraid that I will be denied because they say that it will be harder this time since the first single entry visa that was approved to me was not used. I would like to seek help on how I can renew and get good chances of being approved since this is a business trip. What are the chances and what requirements are needed on this? I want to be part of the training. It is not my fault too that I was not able to use the first granted visa. Please help.Nned your professional advise.

Hi Regie. The application process will be the same as the first time you applied. It should not be harder since there is no abuse of the use of visa and you have a valid reason. You may read on this post regarding documents, Documentation //blogs.usembassy.gov/philippines/?p=390
Interview and Supporting Documents: What you Say and Not what you Show Matters (NIV) http://blogs.usembassy.gov/philippines/?p=2276

I have question my bf mother and sister inviting me and my 1yr9months old baby girl to travel for tourist visa (B2) my bf is in California US too. My bf mother will settle everything like plane ticket to go there and come back here. and my bf mother will sponsor our shelter, food and everything. mga US citizen sila at my mga work . Me and my baby never meet them in person so they are exited too to see me and my baby, our purpose only is to travel and meet my bf family that’s I really want to see and experience to see the beautifull places in california …What do I need to do ? If me and my baby apply together for(B2) and we have invitation letter (at ang nakalagay is there going to settle everything ) . kailangn ba 2 (DS-160) At OK lang din ba mag pa schedule kming sabay sa interview ng baby q.? May bank account ako but not that much , and I have my parents and my relatives waiting for me and my baby to come back here in the Philippines.

Hi Sarah. Visa applications are adjudicated based on individual merits, consistent with criteria specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and the Federal regulations issued pursuant to it. Consular officers are required to deny visas to applicants who cannot qualify under the law and to issue visas to those applicants who do qualify. Consular officers cannot issue visas based on the assurances of family members, friends or interested third parties, on the reputation or integrity of the party recommending the applicant, or on the ability of a sponsor to provide financial support. Rather, the decision simply reflects the visa applicant’s inability to qualify for a visa at the time of application.

Yes. Every applicant (except those applying for diplomatic visas) requires an interview appointment and needs to pay the machine-readable visa application fee.
The application procedures and requirements are provided in the Nonimmigrant Visa website.

Minor applicants must appear at the Embassy with at least one parent for the interview. If the minor is an orphan or if both parents are outside of the Philippines, a legal guardian must be present during the interview. In addition to other documents visa applicants may prepare, parents should always bring their own passports with valid U.S. visas and the children’s original birth certificates on National Statistics Office (NSO) security paper. Thank you.

Hello, i have a US citizen boyfriend for 2 years now and just recently this week he got sick and found out that he has a cancer. And he wants me to visit him and i also really want to visit him there. If my boyfriend can send me copies of how his medical condition now is there higher possibilities that the embassy would grant me visa? I dont have a job but my bf said he will provide a financial proof, and my ties are my family here. I have a cousin and auntie in colorado does it help if in the interview i will tell them i have relatives but my main purpose of getting that visa is to really visit my boyfriend. Thanks

You are welcome to apply for a nonimmigrant visitor visa if you want to visit your boyfriend in the US. The application procedures and requirements are provided in our website, http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html. An applicant’s eligibility for the visa will be determined by a consular officer during the interview. To qualify for the visitor visa, you should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel departure after your temporary stay in the United States.